Giant Wine Sale & Tasting 6/28/2014
Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC
Tasted Saturday, June 28, 2014 by Mike Kopanski with 512 views
Introduction
Another affordable and tasty lineup from Kaitlin and her staff. This warm early summer day attracted a diverse crowd from surprisingly knowledgeable 20 somethings to 60ish semi pros like myself. Being my busiest time of the year at work, I took more detailed notes than usual. As usual, both the regulars and newbies were buying by the case.
2013 Herdade do Esporão Alandra Rosé 87 Points
Portugal
Less than two months ago, we had the chance to taste the 2012 offering of this rose. This one was at least as good if not better. This is probably a bleed rose for their red wine program. Big for a rose with lots of body. There is big acid, but it is amply balanced in an above average way. Strawberry and more strawberry on the palate. Might be slightly sweet. Very pleasing on the palate.
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2012 Dirty Pure Project Vermentino G Spot Lodi 83 Points
USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi
I'm not so sure about this one. My antennae go up when there is this much hype. Trying to be diplomatic, we have to give these guys from Lodi some credit for even attempting to produce Vermentino and Roussanne. But, basically it is disappointing. The nose is shy. At first the wine is a little flabby, but then it turns into mostly acid. It is a little disjointed, and I suspect pretty heavily filtered. Not to my liking, should try it again.
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2010 R. Stuart & Co. Riesling Love 86 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
I'm not exactly sure what to think about this Riesling. It is certainly not typical for either a US West Coast, or German offering. It does not have of the big Riesling flavors and aromas. On the nose my first impression was some kind of fruit cake, with a hint of yeast. Not bad just different. There is a hint of grass on the palate with ripe pear, peach and nectarine. Does not have a typical big acid finish, which to me showed a hint of nuttiness.
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2013 Ventisquero Sauvignon Blanc Yali Wetland 89 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley
This wine I'm sure is from the Lolol Valley within the Colchagua region. Though not the closest wine growing region to the Pacific Ocean, this is way closer than most. Sauvignon Blanc is finding a third home in Chile, and as close to the coast as possible. This wine exhibits almost all of the desired aromas and flavors we have come to enjoy with Sauvignon Blanc. It gets 89 points mostly because of a vibrant, explosive, expressive entry of fruit and secondary flavors on the palate. Golden color with a tinge of green. Surprisingly shy and ungiving nose. The expression of flavors seems to be a nice combination of what we enjoy from France, New Zealand, and California; ie, a little earthy, a little grassy, and a touch of sweetness. Very nice.
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2012 Bodegas Virgen del Águila Cariñena Seis Circles 87 Points
Spain, Aragón, Cariñena
This is a nice surprise. The nose and the palate are very Viognier like with a rich, viscous floral and sweet fruit profile. There is a nice hit of slate, earth minerality. Solid core of pear and peach near the pit fruit. More than enough fruit to balance the fruit, and even age a while. Even a touch of white wine tannins toward the finish.
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2012 Candoni Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie Made from organic grapes 86 Points
Italy, Delle Venezie
Really nice Pinot Grigio that displays a range of aromas and flavors beyond it's modest price. Lovely fruity and floral nose. Pear, apple and gooseberry fruit with a hint of almond. An oily, lanolin mid palate. Moderate acidity. Pear with citrus on the finish.
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2012 Howling Moon Pinot Noir 86 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
One of those red wines you have to be patient with. The nose is a little stinky i.e poop, leading you to believe there might be a flaw. Even the first taste is only so so. But swish it around in he mouth, and it becomes quite fruity. The fruit is sort of shy, cranberry and red raspberry that takes a moment to warm to you. Not big, and kind of delicate. So balanced you don't try to evaluate the individual flavor components, just sip and enjoy.
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2012 Pietra Santa Pinot Noir 88 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Cienega Valley
Another Pinot that shines if you give it a little patience. Was very unsure with this wine from the nose which was slightly stinky, and even had a touch of diesel. My experience told me to swirl the glass, then give the taste a big swish in the mouth, which turned out to be very rewarding. The entrance of the fruit is almost sweet and very tasty. Has the kind of depth and character for a relatively light bodied wine that only carefully farmed and vinified Pinot can do. Am certain the vinturi, or a decant would help this wine show it's true potential.
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2011 Benton-Lane Pinot Noir 87 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Another one of those Pinot Noir's that sneaks up on you. The color is relatively light. The nose is very vanilla with some bramble aroma just like a Zinfandel. The approach is very soft, and until you swish around a bit, not too memorable. But, then the light comes on. The mouth feel is a very complete wine with bright expressive, almost sweet red fruit, commendable balancing acid, gritty little tannins and emerging secondary, earthy stuff. Begging for a decant.
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2012 Santa Ema Merlot Select Terroir 87 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley
Nice job Santa Ema. As we poured into the decanter, there was zero doubt this wine was from Chile. The tell tail aroma of evergreen/hemlock was unmistakable. This wine has very nice body and mouth feel. There is a distinct taste of blueberry on the roof of the mouth. The flavor profile does a nice job of exhibiting the typical flavors of Chilean red wine without being overpowering. Solid mid palate. So balanced that none of the flavor characteristic are individually prevalent. Some cocoa and graphite with believe it or not some flavor of ripe dark grapes on the finish.
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2011 Sterling Vineyards Merlot 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
As an experienced taster of Sterling wines, I easily could have told you what to expect in flavor and aroma, and this wine did not disappoint. This wine gets it's decent 88 score not by being big and powerful, but from being consistent, approachable, fruit forward and complete. I think they use rotary fermentors which explains the soft fruitiness. Nicely balanced. More red fruit flavors than most Merlot's. Super clean and balanced.
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2011 Hill & Dale Shiraz 88 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
A very pleasant surprise. As I was first tasting this wine, and reading the label from a distance, I thought it was an Aussie Shiraz. But my tastes buds immediately said this was not typical, so reading the label revealed it's South African origin. To me that first taste was very much like that of a Rhone wine. Big, easily accessible red fruit. Pretty hot alcohol, but still smooth and balanced. Nice fruit forward personality. Develops into a spicy, slightly herbal wine with secondary supporting flavors of road tar, wet stones and minerals.
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2011 Hook & Ladder Station 10 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
A pretty tasty kitchen sink blend of mostly thin skinned varietals, except the 3% Cabernet. The 69% Zin carries the blend showing some typical bramble and blueberry on the nose and palate. Deep purple color. Medium plus bodied. There is a really nice graphite meets minerals streak of flavor surrounding the blackberry, cherry and red raspberry fruit. A hint of American oak. A spicy influence, along with some vanilla. The fruit really smooths out toward the finish leaving a lingering blueberry jam taste on the roof of the mouth.
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2012 Miguel Torres Cabernet Sauvignon Tormenta Reserva 87 Points
Chile, Curico Valley
I was very pleasantly surprised. This Cabernet is not typical to Chile and is very International in style. It avoids most of those typical to Chile, black tea and wet tree bark flavors and aromas. Quite light in both body and color, this drinks more like a Pinot than a Chilean Cab. The nose is vanilla and red fruit. Very soft and easy entry of raspberry, cherry and blackberry fruit. Nice array of secondary flavors like licorice, lead pencil and some black tea. Much more fruit forward than typical, but still nicely balanced with a red fruit finish.
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